great hat. 43 
mixed with meal., is said to be the most certain, as 
it is the least dangerous. 
In the isle of France, rats are found in such 
prodigious swarms, that it is said the place was 
entirely abandoned by the Dutch on account of 
their number. In some of the houses they are so 
numerous, that thirty thousand have been known 
to be killed in a year. They make immense 
hoards under-ground, both of corn and fruit ; 
and climb up the trees to devour the young birds. 
They pierce the very thickest rafters. At sun-set 
they may be seen running about in all directions ; 
and in a single night they will frequently destroy 
a whole crop of corn. M. de Saint Pierre says, he 
has seen a field of maize, in which they had not 
left a single ear. They are supposed to have been 
originally brought to that island in some of the 
European vessels. 
On the return of the Valiant man of war, from 
the Havannah, in the year 1766, its rats had in- 
creased to such a degree, that they destroyed a hun- 
dred-weight of biscuit daily. The ship was at' 
length smoked between decks, in order to suffocate 
them ; which had the desired effect, and six ham- 
pers were, for some time, filled every day with the 
rats that had thus been killed. 
The following anecdote of a whimsical mode of 
clearing a house of these troublesome animals, may 
be new to many readers : — A gentleman travelling 
through Mecklenburg, about thirty years ago, was 
witness to a very singular circumstance in the post- 
house at New Stargard. After dinner, the land- 
lord placed on the floor a large dish of soup, and 
gave a loud whistle. Immediately there came into 
the room, a mastiff, a fine Angora cat, an old raven, 
and a remarkably large rat with a bell about its 
neck. They all four went to the dish, and, with*, 
out disturbing each other* fed together ; after 
